STEM for homeschoolers: a parents' guide

Homeschooling in the UK is on the rise. In 2023, somewhere between 125,000 and 180,000 children were homeschooled – and those numbers are set to rise in the coming year.

Making the decision to homeschool isn't an easy one, and the reality of homeschooling presents as many challenges as it does opportunities. One of the biggest of these is finding the right resources to ensure that children are learning effectively.

Of course, parents can follow the National Curriculum (although there is no legal obligation to do so). This offers a clear roadmap for learning at all ages, as well as structured objectives and assessment. However, part of the promise of homeschooling is flexibility, freedom and personalisation. For this reason, many parents look for additional materials to include in their homeschooling.

Here at Stump Cross Caverns, we're not just a show cave. We're also passionate about educating youngsters. That's why we programme homeschooling days and other events for children. It's why we've put free Key Stage 2 activities on our website. And it's why we've put together this guide to teaching STEM for homeschooling parents.

But before we dig into some STEM resources, here are some tips for teaching STEM at home.

Tips for teaching STEM at home

Homeschooling tips are ten-a-penny. If you're homeschooling, you've probably come across the usual: stick to a daily routine, stay organised, take breaks and so on. But how can these be fine-tuned for STEM in particular?

First of all, you can optimise your learning space. Homeschoolers the world over know the importance of a dedicated learning space. It's a key way to increase focus and continuity.

A learning space can also be a place where learning is externalised. This could be a case of putting up posters that show key STEM principles and facts. It could be a globe, a microscope, an abacus. The only limit is your imagination (and your child's!)

Secondly, you can take learning out of the classroom. This is a valuable activity whatever the subject – but STEM is especially rich in possibilities.

Museums, nature reserves, astronomical observatories, coding workshops – the list goes on. These are both a great way to learn through doing as well as keeping your kids in touch with other children, homeschooled or not.

Then there are the possibilities introduced by collaborating with other homeschoolers. This is a crucial part of the homeschooling experience, both for parents and children. Sharing materials and exchanging ideas with other parents can make a positive difference.

And finally, you can emphasise hands-on learning. Getting your child to make and do is often the best way to explain basic concepts from science and maths – and it can also re-focus students when solitary book study gets too much.

Follow these tips and we hope you'll find that your STEM homeschooling sessions are that little bit more enjoyable, as well as that bit more informative.

STEM resources for homeschoolers

The easiest way to teach from home is to use National Curriculum activities. While there's no legal obligation for homeschooled kids to follow it, it's a tried and tested way to organise learning. It also offers a handy framework for assessing progress.

Your first port of call could be the interactive activities on the BBC Bitesize website. But if you want to supplement the National Curriculum or replace it entirely, there are plenty of options available. 

STEM Learning has a huge range of free teaching resources for STEM subjects at both primary and secondary levels. One of its best features is that it centres activities on clear learning objectives – something that can be difficult to achieve when assembling your own curriculum.

Code is a non-profit that provides bite-sized videos, activities and self-paced lessons for children as young as five. If you want coding to be part of your homeschooling programme, this site could be a real help.

Then there's YouTube. With at least 800 million videos on there, it can be a challenge to sift the good stuff. But there are plenty of channels that specialise in STEM learning for children and which can be integrated into homeschooling.

Last but not least, there's a profusion of resources on the Tes website. Some are free and some are paid for. Accessing either requires you to have an account. However, it's a great way to find supplementary resources on key STEM topics.

Creating a curriculum from scratch isn't something that most parents have the time, energy or inclination to do. Supplementing the National Curriculum with online resources takes off some of the pressure and means you know your child is getting the essentials.

Explore our educational resources

On our website, we've got free educational materials for KS2 covering these essential topics:



• How fossils are formed
• How rocks are formed
• Stone Age animals
• How climates change
• How light works
• Stone Age facts

As well as being free, all these materials are in line with the National Curriculum and can easily be integrated into STEM homeschooling.

Visit Stump Cross

Here at Stump Cross, we're passionate about the concept of learning through play. Our caves aren't just beautiful – they can also teach us a lot about geology.

That's why we've started holding home education days. It's a way to connect young home learners with the history of our planet – and with each other.

Each session provides bespoke group learning for three to 10-year-olds. Expect informative presentations and fun fossil digs where kids get to unearth and take home prehistoric treasures.

As well as this, we run regular gem panning sessions. These, too, are fun, hands-on events that are designed to teach kids about our planet's history.

So if you want to introduce some active learning into your homeschooling, come to Stump Cross Caverns. We promise you an experience that your kids won't forget in a hurry.

It's quick and easy to book tickets online.